(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
The first matter concerns the intrusion into Japan’s territorial airspace. Today, we have confirmed that an IL-38 patrol aircraft belonging to the Russian military intruded into Japan’s territorial airspace three times between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., in the airspace above Japan’s territorial waters above the northern part of Rebun Island, Hokkaido. Specifically, it began flying near the northern part of Rebun Island at around 12:50 p.m., and intruded into Japan’s airspace above the northern part of Rebun Island, Hokkaido for approximately one minute from 1:03 p.m. to 1:04 p.m., a second time for approximately 30 seconds from 3:31 p.m., and a third time for approximately one minute from 3:42 p.m. to 3:43 p.m. Then, it ended its flight in the airspace at around 5:50 p.m. and flew toward the Eurasian continent. In response to these actions, the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) scrambled F-15 and F-35 fighter aircraft from the Northern Air Defense Force of the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) and issued radio transmission notifications and warnings, as well as fired flares in warning. This is the first time that a flare warning has been issued since the introduction of measures against aircraft intruding into Japan’s territorial airspace. This intrusion into Japan’s territorial airspace is extremely regrettable. Today, we lodged a very strong protest through diplomatic channels and urged the Government of Russia to prevent a recurrence. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the SDF will continue to monitor Russian military developments in the airspace surrounding Japan with strong interest and will take all possible measures to conduct surveillance.
The second matter is about disaster relief dispatches. In response to a disaster relief dispatch request from the Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, the MOD and the SDF have dispatched approximately 1,400 personnel from the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) and the ASDF, along with 11 aircraft, to Wajima City, Suzu City, and Noto Town. They are conducting rescue operations, gathering information, transporting supplies, providing water supply support, and eliminating road obstacles, among other operations, in line with the needs of the respective local governments. We will continue to work closely with the local governments and relevant ministries and agencies, and put all our efforts into responding to the recent heavy rains in Ishikawa Prefecture.